- Board of Registration in Medicine
WAKEFIELD — The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine recently took disciplinary action against the medical licenses of Usha Vellayappan, M.D., Michael R. Sorrell, M.D. and Robert M. Stern, M.D.
The Board immediately stayed the suspension of Dr. Usha Vellayappan’s medical license after she agreed, in a Consent Order, that she engaged in disruptive behavior and conduct that undermines the integrity of the profession. The suspension was immediately stayed upon Dr. Vellayappan entering into a five-year Probation Agreement with at least two years of worksite monitoring, specifically, regarding her behavior and communications with and toward residents, fellows and trainees. She is also required to complete a seminar on Ethics and Professional Boundaries. Dr. Vellayappan is board-certified in Anesthesiology, with a subspecialty certification in adult Cardiac Anesthesiology. She has been licensed to practice medicine in Massachusetts since February 3, 1999. Dr. Vellayappan is primarily affiliated with Boston Medical Center – Brighton. She is also licensed in New Hampshire.
In another Consent Order, the Board reprimanded Dr. Michael R. Sorrell’s medical license upon his admission that he had not checked the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool, as required by law, before prescribing prescriptions in a four-year period. He was previously board certified in Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Sorrell was licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth from April 2, 1976 until August 4, 2025, when he allowed his license to lapse. Prior to his retirement, Dr. Sorrell practiced medicine in a private practice in Springfield.
Additionally, in a Consent Order, the Board imposed a reprimand on Dr. Robert M. Stern’s’ medical license after he agreed that he had failed to provide a patient with their medical records, did not keep a record of some of the patient’s more recent sessions and destroyed older notes and billing records without scanning them. Dr. Stern also spoke with the patient’s new psychiatrist without written authorization and after the patient told him not to speak with the new psychiatrist. The Board also required Dr. Stern to complete Continuing Medical Education credits in both medical record-keeping and in comprehensive psychiatry within six months. Dr. Stern, a board-certified psychiatrist, has been licensed to practice medicine in Massachusetts since March 20, 1975. He is currently practicing at Boston Medical Center. At the time of the sanctioned conduct, he practiced in a private office.
The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine licenses approximately 50,000 physicians, osteopaths and acupuncturists. The Board was created in 1894 to protect the public health and safety by setting standards for the practice of medicine and ensuring that doctors who practice in the Commonwealth are appropriately qualified and competent. The Board investigates complaints and determines sanctions. More information is available at www.mass.gov/massmedboard, or you may contact the Board at borimmediamassmail.state.ma.us.